Can you eat donuts when pregnant?

In this brief guide, we will answer the question: “Can you eat donuts when pregnant?” We will also discuss the effects of eating donuts, the harm of eating donuts when pregnant, what precautions you need to take when eating donuts during pregnancy and what healthier alternatives you could eat. 

Can you eat donuts when pregnant?

Yes, you can eat donuts when pregnant, but not too often. Donuts are perhaps one of the most famous sweet snacks, being a popular craving among pregnant women. Like other foods, it will not bring harm if eaten in the right amounts.

Donuts are sold in almost every country, having multiple flavors like chocolate, strawberry and vanilla. However, there are healthier options for you to eat when pregnant, since most donuts are full of sugar and fat from the deep-fry process.

What are the effects of eating donuts when pregnant?

There are different effects of eating donuts, especially when pregnant. Although it can bring a lot of joy, donuts can give a bloating sensation in the body, mainly in the abdominal area, because it has a lot of fat and sugar, being an ultra-processed food.

Pregnant women have lots of cravings, and donuts are one of the most common. When you fulfill a craving during pregnancy, it releases joy hormones like dopamine and endorphins, which keep you satisfied for a longer time.

Donuts can contain higher levels of sugar, which can give you a boost in your energy. However, it is better to obtain that sensation from healthier foods, in case you constantly want to. 

What is the harm of eating donuts when pregnant?

There are a few harms of eating donuts when pregnant. It is not a high quality nutritional food, which is important for pregnant women and the correct development of the fetus. There are much healthier foods to eat, with a higher nutritional rate.

However, if you are craving donuts, it is ok to eat sometimes. If eaten in excess, it can cause overweight, gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia, which is extremely dangerous when pregnant, and it can even lead to pre-labor or abortion.

Each 100 grams of donuts contains 452 calories, which is considered a high amount, when compared to other snacks. A total of 50% of the donuts is fat, of which 70% is unhealthy fat like saturated fat.

Saturated fats are also known as unwanted fats, because they are the type of substance that lead to heart conditions and accumulation of LDL cholesterol in our vessels and arteries, a situation that can cause a stroke and even death when you don’t have medical care. 

What are the precautions you need to take when eating donuts during pregnancy?

There are a few precautions you need to take when eating donuts during pregnancy. Industrialized sweets usually have a higher quantity of calories, so if you have diabetes or an overweight history, it is best to avoid.

Although fulfilling your cravings is great for you as a mother and for the balance of your hormones during pregnancy, you need to take care when buying donuts from delicatessens and markets, since it can be an old product. Always observe the expiring date.

If you have sleeping issues, it is best to avoid eating donuts at night, especially when they are chocolate flavored. Sugar gives you more energy, which can lead to an unpleasant sensation when trying to sleep. Chocolate also has caffeine, which increases the feeling of unrest.

Always buy donuts from safe places or prefer homemade donuts. Raw donuts can contain harmful microorganisms like Listeria or Toxoplasma, which are really dangerous to the mother and the baby, and even affect the fetus development.

What other healthier options could you eat when pregnant?

There are other healthier options you could eat instead of donuts. More recently, it became easier to find less fat and less sugar candies options in the market. Always observe the percentage of these substances for a balanced diet.

If you want to eat even more naturally, you can freeze fruits with milk or water and use the blender. Fruits like strawberry, watermelon, bananas or berries have a sweet taste, being a healthier and easier way to eat sugar.

Other FAQs about Doughnuts that you may be interested in.

How to reheat donuts?

How to keep donuts fresh?

How many munchkins in a box?

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we answered the question: “Can you eat donuts when pregnant?” We also discussed the effects of eating donuts, the harm of eating donuts when pregnant, what precautions you need to take when eating donuts during pregnancy and what healthier alternatives you could eat.

Hope you found this blog useful. If you have any questions, please let us know.

Citations

https://kylonpowell.com/can-you-eat-donuts-when-pregnant/

https://www.huggies.com/en-us/resources/pregnancy/health-and-wellness/the-dos-and-donts-of-prenatal-eating

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